A graveside service for retired SSG Ira Lee Griffith Jr., 69, of Copperas Cove will be held on January 22, 2020 at 10:00am at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen with full military honors. Pastor Mark Kemp of the First Baptist Church of Copperas Cove will be officiating.
Ira passed away on Tuesday, January 14, 2020 at the VA hospital in Temple. He was born on October 10, 1950 in Carbondale, Illinois to the late Ira Sr. and Edna Griffith.
He joined the US Army on October 31, 1967 at the age of 17 and retired after 20 years of service. Ira was a Viet Nam veteran and saw overseas duty in Korea, Okinawa Japan, and Europe with numerous awards and decorations both military and civilian.
Besides being a Civil War history buff, his hobbies included fishing, hunting, and traveling. He was a life member of DAV Post 29 and the 1st Calvary Division Association.
Ira is survived by his wife of 44 years, Eiko; son David and his wife Tiffany; daughter Christina and her husband William; grandchildren Keynan, Grace, Kaleo, Kalia, and Kai; and sister Sharon.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Ira’s name to the building fund of First Baptist Church of Copperas Cove.
